Cardio Kickbox & LSC II

[Guest guest]

Today was a MUCH better workout than yesterday. It helps that I went to bed at 10 instead of close to midnight the night before I'm sure. I did Jillian's Cardio Kickbox first. I had a serious dread going about that one. I've only done it once or twice and don't know when the last time was but my memory of it was that it was very challenging. This workout is all drills, no combinations (except a back kick/front kick). It is very repetitive too but because it is only 25 minutes long you're not doing any one thing for long (you just repeat the exercises in between other ones). The warm-up was all high intensity and had my heart rate in the zone very quickly. It stayed there throughout most of the workout, except when it went over. For a little bit of the time it was below, especially when she did this slow leg lifting thing after "fast feet." Jillian does not give any instruction on form, so you need to know what the moves are or just watch and follow along. There's nothing complicated. I had to watch and jump in on the front kick/back kick thing and one or two others but got it immediately when I did. I'm not super familiar with great kickboxing form but I don't think Jillian has it. She's got a backgrounder (Missy or something like that) who really looks like she knows what she's doing though. There is a beginner modifier but I didn't see where she was modifying much. Jillian didn't explain what she was doing that would be called modifications either.Jillian was kind of obnoxious in this one too (and I do like her). She giggles at strange times and acts more "cool" and "tough" than she is just being herself I think. I can ignore that stuff though, I still liked it. I started this off saying I dreaded the workout but I ended up feeling really good about it. It wasn't easy but it was far from as hard as I remembered too, especially after conquering Body Max this week. It is a good for me short cardio workout.

I did have some equipment issues with this though and got through them without getting too frustrated. My DVD is choosing to stop very close to the end of the warm-up and then return to the main menu. I ended up fast forwarding it just past that point and playing from there and it worked. I tested it in my laptop too and it happened there as well so now I'm wanting a new disc. Oh well, it isn't anything I can't work with for now since I know it is there. Also, the strap on my HRM, I've noticed lately is looser and it completely slipped out of place during a set of jumping jacks and I couldn't get it to read my heart rate again without taking it off, rewetting it and putting it back on. I don't know if it has just loosened up naturally or I've lost inches around my back but the strap looks like it always has and I do see other changes in my body so I've probably tightened up around there too! I need to adjust it before my next workout though and see how it is then! :-)

After that I did The FIRM Lower Body Sculpt II. This was my first workout led by Libby, who is always known as "Beginners, follow Libby." She was excellent! She has a very pleasant voice, warm manner and great cueing. Does anyone know if she leads other workouts? If so, I'd love to try them! This is 30 minutes of all lower body floor and ab work. You use 1 set of hand weights and at the very beginning only you also use the fanny lifter, which is not necessary. You sit on it and put a weight on one leg and then do some interesting lifts with that leg. I felt those toward the end! She says to use 3-8 lbs for the workout. I used 8 lbs and found it just challenging enough though I'll probably go higher next time. You could easily do this first exercise sitting in a chair. The other one the FL is used for is where you go down on all 4s with your chest on the FL. You bend one leg up and put a weight in the bend then do leg lifts. I do this one without the FL in other workouts and didn't find it necessary today though I did use it. She does some lower body, then some abs, then back to lower body and back to abs and it all flows pretty well. The stretch was really relaxing too. Some regular and some less usual stretches held decently long (especially for The FIRM) and it just felt good. This wasn't a super challenging workout but it was enough for today. If I use heavier weights next time I'm sure it will be even better. I think I like alternating lower body floor and standing work. I get really tired of squats and lunges though I do find them very effective. I also enjoy the floor work and don't have any dread of that like I do endless squats and lunges.

Gotta go get dressed for my second set of meetings (I lead one in the afternoon and then I'm a receptionist for 2 in the evening) then I'm going out to dinner to celebrate birthdays with my co-workers.